Japan’s Youth Boys’ Team qualified for the 2009 World Championship as a result of a successful campaign at the 7th Asian Championship last year in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

WIth the World Championship in mind, head coach Masafumi Oura, a former national team player, went in search of the nation's top talent at local volleyball associations.

The players have only attended one training camp so far this year, but will have two more prior to the World Championship.

The boys, who could go on to become Senior National Team members, have made every effort to improve their skills and have worked especially hard in fitness training. Apart from practices, meetings are regulalry held in which volleyball skills and tactics are studied. The results have been very successful and the players are deeply committed to the necessity of training.One of the key players is Takashi Dekita, who is tall and quick. It is no exaggeration to say that he is the most talented player of his generation. His high-level of play is surely to lead the team.

Yamato Fushimi is also a very promising player, developing his abilities day by day. This competition will definitely be a good learning experience for him.

The youth players will start their third training camp immediately prior to the World Championship. Oura is confident the team will be ready to reach their goals at the tournament.

Japan’s Youth Boys’ team has successfully qualified for the World Championship for the first time in 10 years. The person who led the young team is head coach Masafumi Oura, a former national team volleyball player.

Masafumi Oura was born on September 28th 1969, in Nagasaki, located in the western part of Japan. He showed talent from a young age, playing at the top level from high school. After graduating, he entered the Suntory Sunbirds Volleyball Team. Immediately as a rookie, he became one of the main players and received many individual awards. His skills fascinated the fans and it is said that he was able to jump 1 meter or even higher.

In 1989, he was first selected for the National Senior Team, and became an Olympian in 1992.

At the age of 28, Oura announced his retirement as a player. Yet he chose to stay involved in volleyball. He went back to Nagasaki and attended University to obtain certification as a coach. A few years after graduating, he was appointed as the Assistant Coach of the Youth Boy’s team in 2005.

Two years later, in 2007, Oura made his debut as head coach of the team. He took action immediately by searching for young players at local volleyball associations. He and his boys made every effort to improve their skills, and worked especially hard in fitness training, learning new methods to train their bodies. Their efforts bore fruit last year when they qualified for the World Championship.

The team will start their second training camp in August. Oura is confident the team will be ready by the time of the competition.